Modular guide assembly

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a guide assembly in a plant for working strip ( 1 ), comprising positionable guides ( 3   a,    3   b ) at both longitudinal edges ( 2   a,    2   b ) of the strip ( 1 ), at least one guide ( 3   a,    3   b ) being pressable by at least one actuator ( 4 ) against the strip ( 1 ), characterized in that at least one guide ( 3   a,    3   b ) is shiftable along a guide beam ( 9 ) formed with a cylinder ( 7 ) in which a piston ( 6 ) fixedly attached to the guide ( 3   a,    3   b ) can be moved.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a guide assembly in a plant for deforming aworkpiece, and particularly to a guide assembly forming part of ametal-rolling mill, especially a strip mill. The guide assembly servesto guide strip ov various strip materials, particularly metal of variouscompositions, temperatures, widths and thicknesses.

STATE OF THE ART

Straight edge guides used in guide assemblies of rolling mills inparticular to edge guides of milled or split strip, are described forinstance in DE 14 27 923 A. This state of the art deals with the wear ofstraight edge guides when guiding strip in particular.

DE 31 162 78 A1 [GB 2,100,475] discloses a device that will control thestrip position when rolling where according to the extent of thepositioning of the band that is transported through the rolling train,monitoring elements of sensors trigger signals as to which servomotorswill switch on to either deflect the roll axis or adjust the edge guidesat the upstream end of the rolling train. This is supposed to remedy thecauses of a strip that is moving off the desired position.

In addition, EP 0 721 812 A1 [U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,603] describes theguides at side edges of the band for the same purpose, the edge guidesconsisting of a number of subdivided segments both near the rolls aswell as between them. Moreover, these individual segments or segmentpairs can be moved individually and independently of the adjacentsegments on the strip toward it or away from it to control the wear ofthe strip and of the lateral guide.

GB 2,031,771 A in turn describes a guide assembly for a rolling trainprovided between at least two adjacent roll stands along a rollerconveyor. The objective of the assembly as well as of the strips used isto limit wear of the strip guides to a minimum, and at the same time tominimize damage to the guided strip edges.

On roller conveyors of rolling trains, particularly of strip-rollingmils such as for example steel or aluminum rolling mills it necessary inprinciple to evenly and safely guide strip consisting of various stripmaterials at various temperatures, widths, and thicknesses. However, therequired contact force of devices of this type changes, when guidingstrip, dependent on the strip, its temperature but also its width andthickness. The softer, warmer, wider and/or thinner that a strip is thatmust be guided, the lower the required contact force must be in order toensure safe guiding of the strip along the rolling train, and one mustalso ensure that the strip edges are not deformed, that the strip willnot arch as a whole or even deform in its entirety so that the stripedges or the straight edge guides are damaged.

In practice, a number of different actuators are known to adjust orpress the straight edge guides against the respective strip edges.Mechanical actuators frequently include rack-and-pinion arrangements,nuts running on threaded rods, sprocket wheel chain threaded rods nutactuators or external fluid actuators. The fluid actuators are in turngenerally hydraulic.

When using an actuator of this type, in addition to the limited spacerequirements, the fact that they are frequently exposed to aggressivemedia such as cooling liquids, rolling oils, chipping roll scales etc.,as well as high temperatures is generally disadvantageous to the guidesof a guide assembly. This generally results in increased wear of theactuators in addition to mechanical wear of the straight edge guidesthat themselves are in direct contact with the guided strip. Frequently,in practice, the problem of inadequate accessibility exists formaintenance and exchange purposes for all or individual elements of suchguide assemblies, which results in lengthy down times of the rollingtrain, and thus to considerable production losses. However, the personskilled in the art is aware that changes of the process run due to wearare tolerable only within strict limits as otherwise a loss of qualityof the strip, and, in the medium term, strip-travel problems must beseriously considered.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a guide assemblyin a strip-working plant comprising positionable and preferably parallelguides at both longitudinal edges of the strip, which guides are able toensure a safe and straight guidance of strip being worked by positioningof the guides, and also to reduce the susceptibility to wear of theactuators as a whole by means of a considerable reduction of possibledown times.

This object is attained in an innovative manner by a guide assemblyhaving the characteristics of claim 1. The advantageous embodiments ofthe invention are defined in the dependent claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to guide assemblies of the type described above asused for instance in strip-rolling mils at the intake side and/or theoutput side of roll stands such as for example Steckel rolling mills,reversing roll stands of cold-rolling mills, or at the intake and/oroutput side of roll stands that are arranged in tandem, and particularlyupstream or downstream of coilers.

The invention can be applied to form all conceivable types of strip,particularly to metal rolling mills or plastic deformation trains. It ispreferred particularly that the guide assembly according to theinvention be at the upstream or downstream side of at least one rollstand of a finishing rolling train or of a so-called finish rollingmill.

Guides that are positionable and preferably parallel to each other areprovided in the guide assembly in accordance with the invention that cancenter or align the strip being worked in the working device andparticularly between the forming arrangements, such as for example theroll stands. At least one guide will be acted on by at least oneactuator to ensure a wide field of application of the guide assembliesfor diverse strip profiles or dimensions. In the event that only oneguide's position can be changed or pressurized, the actuator alsoeffects a positioning to the opposing guide via the pressurized guideand via the guided strip itself.

However, in the preferred case where the guides at both longitudinaledges of the strip can be directly adjusted, each guide has its ownactuator.

According to the invention, the actuator must be provided in such mannerthat pistons shiftable in a cylinder are attached to a straight edgeguide. The cylinder for the piston in turn is formed in a guide beam andintegrated into it. Thus, the guide beam not only assumes the functionof the guide itself but also the function of a cylinder for the pistonattached to the guide.

Because of the piston's attachment to the guide, any movement of thepiston in the cylinder integrated into the guide beam effects a directand contemporaneous equal movement of the guide along the guide beam.This therefore ensures a safe and undelayed positioning of the guide orguides relative to the longitudinal edges of the strip being worked.Because of the integration of the cylinder in the guide beam of theactuator only has a minimal number of spaces where aggressive media,particulate matter, etc. could get caught or collect. Furthermore, usingthe actuator arrangement according to the invention, the occurrence ofso-called “drawer effects” where foreign matter, which collected in alarge hollow space or cavity that could lead to a blockage of thearrangement particularly in the event of a reduced volume of the spaceor cavity can be reduced. This allows wear of the individual componentsof the actuator and of the guide assembly to be reduced altogether to aminimum.

In a preferred embodiment of the guide assembly according to theinvention, two guides opposite to each other are connected with eachother via a common guide beam. For instance this common guide beam canextend between and below the conveyor rolls of a roller conveyor andaccordingly below the strip being worked or the strip to be formed. Inthis case it is preferred that the guide beam be essentially symmetricaland that in both ends of the guide beams, preferably the outer ends,respective cylinders be formed in such a way that a piston that isattached to a respective one of the edge guides can shift. This willadvantageously reduce the number of parts used in the guide assembly andalso increase the stability of the guide assembly as a whole. Inaddition, this ensures that two guides that are opposite of each othercan be moved in a synchronized manner along the same displacement pathtoward each other or away from each other. This in particular supportsin an advantageous manner centering the material or strip travel withinthe forming device.

According to the present invention, the shape of the guide beam is notlimited any further. However, it is preferred that the guide beambasically be cylindrical and it is especially preferred that thecylindrical form basically have a circular profile extendingperpendicular to the guide beam's longitudinal direction. By way ofcomparison, such a guide beam is easily made and supports modular designof the guide assembly for movement of the guides. Finally, thecylindrical form of a guide rail is less susceptible to particulatematter adhering to it and moreover, it can be cleaned usingcomparatively simple means. All this supports the resistance to the wearof the guide assembly and an extension of the maintenance and/orexchange intervals of the actuators.

The number of actuators that are connected to each guide is not limitedin accordance with the invention. However, it is preferred that twoactuators be attached to one guide, preferably that two actuators beconnected to the two guides of the guide assembly. This ensures aparticularly safe guidance through the guide assembly of the strip beingworked or of the material that is to be formed. In addition, it allowsthe guides to remain essentially undeformed by the strips' longitudinaledges at comparatively high pressures.

Especially when more than one actuator is connected to a guide, thecoupling of the respective actuators to each other is preferred in orderto prevent any misadjustments of the respective guides due to thepositions of the ends of a guide with respect to the longitudinal stripedges. As long as a coupling is provided, it is preferred that it berealized mechanically, particularly by providing at least onerack-and-pinion arrangement that positions the guides preferably in asynchronized manner.

As already mentioned above, maintenance time and down time can beadvantageously reduced particularly when the guide assembly, andparticularly the respective actuator, is designed as a module. A modularassembly of the actuators is preferred where a guide beam, a guide andat least one piston are assembled that can be installed and/or removedas a unit. In addition, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, sucha modular assembly allows the continued use of a control unit orcontroller that is adjusted to the type of module and/or preadjustedhydraulic systems.

The wear resistance and the influence of aggressive media areessentially caused by a reduction of the spaces or cavities. It istherefore preferred that the actuator of the guide assembly according tothe invention has a cover, and preferably a common cover. In particular,such a cover should extend over the entire module mentioned above inorder to reduce its total wear to a minimum.

In an additional embodiment of the guide assemblies in accordance to theinvention, it is preferred that the guides be positionable independentlyfrom each other. This allows a specially safe process at both sides ofthe strip. Particularly when rolling so called continuous custom blankshaving various thicknesses across the width of the strip, exercising alow pressure upon the comparatively thin strip side can avoid strip-edgedamage at both sides compared to pressurizing the comparatively thickstrip side.

In any case it is preferred, however, that control units or controllersbe attached to at least one actuator of the guide assembly according tothe invention. In the event that several actuators are provided, it isparticularly preferred that they can be controlled or regulatedindependently of each other. In a particularly preferred manner thisprovides maximum flexibility of the process in a forming plant having aproduct variety that is as comprehensive as possible.

As already mentioned in the beginning, the invention is particularlysuitable for use in metal-rolling mills, preferably strip-rolling mills.In this case, it is preferred that the guide assembly in accordance ofthe invention be at the intake side of at least one roll stand of afinishing rolling train. Alternatively it is also preferred that theguide assembly in accordance with the invention be arranged at theoutput side of at least one roll stand of a Steckel train. In such anespecially preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention'sadvantages are clearly apparent and have an optimal effect on theprocess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to twoschematic views of the invention. The schematic views only serve toillustrate and are not in any way designed to limit the scope ofprotection defined in the dependent claims. In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a partly sectional and schematic top view of an embodiment ofa guide assembly according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram along line A-A of FIG. 1.

WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is the partly sectional schematic top view of a guide assemblyaccording to the invention for guiding strip 1. At both longitudinaledges of the strip 1, guides 3 a and 3 b are provided that can bepositioned by respective actuators 4 a, 4 b against the strip 1. Theguides 3 a, 3 b are both of the same cup shape with end flanges that canpress against the respective longitudinal edges of the strip 1. In theillustrated embodiment, both guides 3 a, 3 b are carried on a commonguide beam 9 that is shown here in a bottom view of the guide assembly,so that it extends below the strip 1 moving past the guides 3 a, 3 b.Identically dimensioned cylinders 7 a, 7 b are formed in outer ends ofguide beam 9, forming parts of respective double-acting actuators 4 a, 4b. Respective pistons 6 a, 6 b can be shifted hydraulically in thecylinders 7 a, 7 b so that they form piston/cylinder arrangements 6 a, 7a, and 6 b, 7 b operated by a control or stop unit (not shown). Theouter ends of the pistons 6 a, 6 b engaged in the cylinders 7 a, 7 b arefixedly connected to the floors of the respective cup-shaped guides 3 a,3 b so that displacement of the pistons 6 a, 6 b in the respectivecylinders 7 a, 7 b will also displace of the respective guides 3 a, 3 balong their displacement path defined by the guide beam 9.

FIG. 2 shows a section of a partly shown actuator along section line A-Aof FIG. 1. The guide beam 9 is formed as a cylinder of circular crosssection perpendicular to its longitudinal direction. Similarly, thecup-shaped guide 3 a also is essentially of cylindrical shape in theouter region. A chamber is thus formed in each outer end of the guidebeam 9 that serves as a cylinder 7 for a piston 6 that is slidabletherein. The piston 6 in turn is fixedly connected to the floor of therespective cup-shaped guide 3 a and travel of the piston 6 within thecylinder 7 is limited by the end wall 9 a of the cylinder 7 in the guidebeam 9 as well as by stop ring 9 b as outer abutment of thepiston/cylinder arrangement 6, 7. An additional anti-twist protector 10extending longitudinally along the guide beam 9 inside the guide 3 asafely prevents rotation of the guide 3 a around the cylindrical guidebeam 9.

1. A guide assembly in a plant for shaping a workpiece strip, comprisingtwo positionable guides at respective longitudinal edges of the strip,at least one guide being pressable by at least one actuator against thestrip, wherein at least one guide is shiftable along a guide beam formedwith a cylinder in which a piston fixedly attached to the guide can bemoved, and the two guides are connected opposite each other by thecommon guide beam.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The guide beam according to claim 1,wherein the guide beam is of cylindrical shape.
 4. The guide assemblyaccording to claim 3, wherein the cross-section of guide beam isessentially circular perpendicular to its longitudinal direction.
 5. Theguide assembly according to claim 1, wherein two actuators are attachedto one of the guides and preferably to both guides.
 6. The guideassembly according to claim 5 wherein the actuators are coupled togethermechanically and at least by a rack-and-pinion arrangement.
 7. The guideassembly according to claim 1, wherein all of the actuators are modularand are formed by the guide beam, the guides, and at least one piston.8. The guide assembly according to claim 7, wherein the actuators havecovers.
 9. The guide assembly according to claim 1, wherein the guidesare positionable independently from each other.
 10. The guide assemblyaccording to claim 1, further comprising controllers or control unitsconnected to at least one of the actuators.
 11. The guide assemblyaccording to claim 10, wherein the actuators are controllable oradjustable independently of each other.
 12. The guide assembly inaccordance with claim 1, wherein it is part of a strip-rolling mill. 13.The guide assembly in accordance with claim 12, claim 1, wherein theassembly is at the intake side of at least one roll stand of a finishingrolling train.
 14. The guide assembly in accordance with claim 12, claim1, wherein the assembly is at the output side of at least one roll standof a Steckel train.